Evidence Vaults: St. Lucie County

County crime evidence vaults are filled with evidence in local cases, and sometimes reside there for decades.

FORT PIERCE - The evidence vault at the St. Lucie County Clerk of Court office in Fort Pierce contains pieces of admitted evidence from a number of cases dating back decades. The wooden cross with a large black-faced doll nailed to it is a piece of evidence from a case involving arsonist Henry Drevermann. Drevermann was sentenced to four life sentences on 15 felony charges including several counts of arson, burglary and criminal mischief as well as attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.

FORT PIERCE - This wooden cross with a large black-faced doll nailed to it is a piece of evidence from a case involving arsonist Henry Drevermann. Drevermann was sentenced to four life sentences on 15 felony charges including several counts of arson, burglary and criminal mischief as well as attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.

FORT PIERCE - Boxes of marijuana from the numerous grow house busts in St. Lucie County are kept in the evidence vault in the Clerk of Courts office in Fort Pierce.

FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County evidence vault contains a stack of newspapers containing stories about Gerard Schaeffer including this August 2, 1973 Stuart News.

FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County evidence vault contains a stack of newspapers containing stories about Gerard Schaeffer including this May 20, 1973 Stuart News.

FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County evidence vault contains this rope from the 1973 case involving former Martin County Sheriff's Deputy Gerard Schaeffer who used the rope to tie up his victims. Schaeffer was convicted of the murder of two girls whose decomposing bodies were discovered on the beach north of the Martin County line. He was sentenced to two life terms in prison, and was found murdered in his cell in 1995.

FORT PIERCE - Crime scene photographs taken at the residence of murderer Gerard Schaeffer show items that Schaeffer collected from his victims. Schaeffer was convicted of the murder of two girls whose decomposing bodies were discovered on the beach north of the Martin County line. He was sentenced to two life terms in prison, and was found murdered in his cell in 1995.

FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County evidence vault contains this, and another, tree branch from the 1973 case involving former Martin County Sheriff's Deputy Gerard Schaeffer. Schaeffer was convicted of the murder of two girls whose decomposing bodies were discovered on the beach north of the Martin County line. He was sentenced to two life terms in prison, and was found murdered in his cell in 1995.

FORT PIERCE - This log book shows how records were kept before the introduction of a computerized record keeping system for the St. Lucie County evidence vault.

FORT PIERCE - Gale Ivey, manager of the criminal courts for St. Lucie County displays the rifle discovered during the 2004 trial of Mario Betancourt who shot Richard Mashler and Kenneth Conklin. Betancourt was sentenced to 60 years on two counts of manslaughter.

FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County evidence vault contains this mattress with multiple bullet holes from the case involving Darcus Wright who was arrested in 1993 on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Allison Wright. He was originally sentenced to death, but later received a life term.

FORT PIERCE - Two doors with evidence of bullets fired into them rest side by side in the St. Lucie County Evidence Vault. On the left is a door from a case involving Darcus Wright, of Port St. Lucie, who was arrested in 1993 on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Allison Wright. He was originally sentenced to death, but later received a life term. On the right is a door from a case involving Mac Ray Wright, who killed his girlfriend in 1986. He was sentenced to life in prison.

FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County evidence vault contains a white pantry door with bullet holes. The door was evidence in the murder case of Albert Estrada, who shot his wife Julia Rolon-Estrada five times. Three days after the murder, authorities discovered Rolon-Estrada's body buried in a shallow grave in the backyard, bundled in a blue tarp and a blanket, wrapped in black cord and tape. Estrada was ordered to serve life in prison, his punishment coming a day after he was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder for the July 26, 2006 shooting.

FORT PIERCE - The St. Lucie County evidence vault contains a mop used by Albert Estrada in an attempt to clean up blood after he shot his wife Julia Rolon-Estrada. Three days after the murder, authorities discovered Rolon-Estrada's body buried in a shallow grave in the backyard, bundled in a blue tarp and a blanket, wrapped in black cord and tape. Estrada was ordered to serve life in prison, his punishment coming a day after he was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder for the July 26, 2006, shooting.

FORT PIERCE - In November of 2009 Circuit Judge Robert Belanger sentenced Andrew Michael Gosciminski to death for the Sept. 24, 2002, murder of Joan Loughman. This suitcase containing the victim's clothes has been kept as evidence in the St. Lucie County Evidence vault.

FORT PIERCE - Charles Damiano, who dubbed himself "Charlie Suitcase," was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of kidnapping his girlfriend and stuffing her into this tweed and leather suitcase. He was resentenced in 1995 and released from the Department of Corrections in 2007.

FORT PIERCE - Charles Damiano, who dubbed himself "Suitcase Charlie," was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of kidnapping his girlfriend and stuffing her into this tweed and leather suitcase. He was sentenced in 1995 and released from the Department of Corrections in 2007.